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RFA Asks VA Governor to Give Back The Cash |
Posted on 01/11/2012 |
Budget Would Misdirect License Monies & Suspend State Fishing Tourney
Virginia Governor Bob McDonnell recently raised the ire of approximately 352,000 saltwater anglers in Virginia by announcing his plans to suspend the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament, a state-run program funded primarily through the purchase of state fishing licenses.
As reported by Lee Tolliver in the Virginian-Pilot, the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament averages about 5,000 awards certificates or plaques each year for anglers who catch a variety of saltwater species meeting length or weight minimums, and is staffed by two employees with an annual budget of approximately $200,000 funded solely through the sale of state saltwater fishing licenses.
Under a new 2013-14 budget proposal being considered by Governor McDonnell, eliminating the 55-year-old statewide fishing tournament would mean that license revenues could be reallocated towards other fisheries management programs currently being funded through the state’s general fund.
In a letter to Governor McDonnell on behalf of its members, the Recreational Fishing Alliance (RFA) has encouraged the Virginia governor to reconsider the proposal to kill the longstanding fishing tournament, which they said has contributed greatly to the state’s tourism revenue through increased angler effort and participation.
“RFA and its members know full well that these are tough economic times which require difficult fiscal decisions on how to best spend taxpayer dollars, however, suspending a money-making state program like the Virginia Saltwater Fishing Tournament will ultimately lead to lost tourism receipts, decreasing tax revenues, and more private sector unemployment,” wrote RFA executive director Jim Donofrio, while calling recreational fishing “a jobs creator” for Virginia.
Read the full press release here |
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